Youth Policy as Strong as Ever Says Ed

Youth Policy as Strong as Ever Says Ed

Article excerpt

ED Woodward has hit back at suggestions United have abandoned
their youth policy.

The Reds' commitment to promoting youth team players was
questioned in the summer transfer window when Louis van Gaal allowed
academy products Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck to leave for Aston
Villa and Arsenal respectively.

They were replaced with expensive foreign imports like Angel Di
Maria and Radamel Falcao, prompting some to speculate it signalled a
change of direction for a club famous for producing the Busby Babes
and Sir Alex Ferguson's Class of 92.

But Woodward insists United are still keen to promote their own
players and pointed to the emergence of Tyler Blackett, Paddy
McNair, James Wilson and Andreas Pereira this season as proof.

Van Gaal has given Blackett, McNair and Pereira their first-team
debuts. Saidy Janko and Reece James were also given their senior
debuts in the defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.

Woodward said: "Encouragingly, in addition to the world leading
players we have acquired, our first team now includes several new
players promoted from our academy, including Blackett, McNair,
Pereira and Wilson. …